Red Cross has urgent need for blood and platelet donations to prevent a winter shortage

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The American Red Cross has an urgent need for blood and platelet donations to prevent a shortage this winter. Busy holiday schedules in November and December contributed to about 1,700 fewer blood drives held across the country compared to the two previous months, which has resulted in about 50,000 fewer donations and reduced the blood supply. Donation appointments can be quickly and easily scheduled by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

“A decline in the blood supply after the winter holidays is not uncommon, but it can be replenished when generous volunteers roll up their sleeves to help save lives,” said Rodney Wilson, communications manager for the Red Cross Central Ohio Blood Servies Region. “We encourage our generous donors who are eligible, as well as new donors, to make an appointment to give blood or platelets and help ensure blood products continue to be available for patients. Every two seconds a patient in the U.S. needs blood.”

January is National Blood Donor Month, which has been observed since 1970 with the goal of increasing blood donations during the winter – one of the most difficult times of year to collect enough blood and platelet donations to meet patient needs. In addition to winter bringing busy holiday schedules for many regular donors, severe winter weather can cancel blood drives, and seasonal illnesses, like the flu, may cause donors to be temporarily unable to give.

Blood and platelet donors of all blood types are urged to make an appointment to donate for patients like Pyper Young, now 7 years old. The chemotherapy that treated Pyper’s brain cancer also caused her to need emergency transfusions to increase her blood levels. The Red Cross must collect about 14,000 donations every day to meet the needs of patients like Pyper.

Upcoming Blood Donation Opportunities:

Crawford County

Bucyrus

2/2/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Amvets Post 27 – Bucyrus, 235 E Galen St

2/4/2016: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Bucyrus High School, 900 W. Perry Street

Morrow County

Cardington

2/6/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Cardington First United Methodist Church, 300 South Marion Street

Marengo

2/5/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Marengo United Methodist Church, 8 N. Main Street

Shauck

1/16/2016: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., St. John’s Lutheran Church, 6808 State Route 314

Richland County

Butler

2/5/2016: 3 p.m. – 9 p.m., Mohican Wood Products, 20460 Nunda

Mansfield

1/18/2016: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Richland Blood Donation Center, 39 N Park Street

1/19/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Madison High School, 600 Esley Lane

1/20/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Eisenhower Center, 1760 University Drive

1/20/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Richland Blood Donation Center, 39 N Park Street

1/22/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., First Church of God, 1756 Park Avenue West

1/23/2016: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Lowe’s, 940 N. Lexington Springmill Road

1/25/2016: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Richland Blood Donation Center, 39 N Park Street

1/26/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Richland Bank, 3 N. Main St.

1/27/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Richland Blood Donation Center, 39 N Park Street

2/1/2016: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Richland Blood Donation Center, 39 N Park Street

2/2/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Crossroads Community Church, 1188 Park Ave West

2/3/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Richland Blood Donation Center, 39 N Park Street

2/6/2016: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Richland Co. Young Marines, 1201 Park Ave. West

Shelby

1/15/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., OhioHealth, 199 West Main Street

2/5/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Pioneer Career & Tech Center, 27 Ryan Rd

Knox County

Fredericktown

1/19/2016: 2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Batemantown Methodist Church, 7669 Yankee Street

1/22/2016: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Fredericktown High School, 111 Stadium Drive

Gambier

1/28/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Kenyon College, Gund Commons-Gaskin Ave

Martinsburg

2/3/2016: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., Church of Christ, 126 E.South Street

2/3/2016: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m., Church of Christ, 126 E.South Street

Mount Vernon

1/18/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Vineyard Church of Knox County, 806 Harcourt Road

1/19/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Gay Street United Methodist Church, 18 N. Gay Street

1/21/2016: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Moose Lodge, 417 W. High Street

1/22/2016: 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Knox County Career Center Educational Training and Facility for Health and Wellness, 1481 Yauger Rd

Marion County

Marion

1/20/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Harding High School, 1500 Harding Highway East

1/20/2016: 2 p.m. – 7 p.m., Harding High School, 1500 Harding Highway East

How to donate blood

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, from a home or work computer prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

Staff report

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